Bengaluru Flooded, Yet DyCM Says Issues in Problematic Areas Resolved at 166 Locations

Bengaluru: In a rain related death, a dilapidated compound wall of a private company collapsed on a worker identified as 35 Sashikala leading to her death on the spot on Monday in Channasandra of Mahadevapura police station limits of Bengaluru city. Mahadevapura recorded heavy rainfall on Sunday evening.

The incident occurred at her work place in Whitefield of Bengaluru city. She was working in house-keeping in a private company and a wall collapsed on her when she went to collect cleaning materials. He belonged to Yadgir district and was working in Bengaluru.

Over the death of the woman, Bengaluru incharge and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar reportedly stated “a small incident.” Bharatiya Janata Party was quick to criticize the statement by Shivakumar and stated “what would have been your reaction had it been one of your family members in the same place?”

“It is shameless,” the leaders said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the bereaved family members.

To assess the situation Chief Minister Siddaramaiah along with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar inspected rain-affected areas in the city and later D.K. Shivakumar told reporters as many as 210 locations in Bengaluru city were identified as problematic areas when it rains and issues in about 166 locations have been resolved except for 44, stated Bengaluru incharge and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

After holding inspection of rain affected areas in Bengaluru city along with Chief Minister Suddaramaiah on Monday, Shivakumar said out of 44 locations tagged as problematic areas, works have been initiated in about 24 areas in Bengaluru city.

“A sum of Rs 2,000 crore has been kept aside to keep storm water drains free from blockages,” he said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Bengaluru city has about 859.90 km of storm water drainage works have been taken-up to construct walls along 195-km walls along storm water drainages in the city and another 173-km wall construction along storm water drains will be initiated with the funding from World Bank.

Leader of Opposition in Assembly R. Ashoka termed the flooding in Bengaluru city as “global humiliation" and accused the Congress led State Government of not learning from previous year’s flooding in Bengaluru city. He demanded the State Government to release Rs 1,000 crore for relief operations in Bengaluru city considering that many layouts are inundated, hundreds of vehicles have been washed away in the floods and residents have spent night draining water out of their houses in Sai Layout among others in Bengaluru city.

Ashoka said floods have occurred in Hebbal, Koramangala and Vrishabhavathi valleys of Bengaluru and asked the State Government to provide Rs 1 lakh as compensation for rain affected residents especially floods.